Raid 0 Backup

Is it possible to backup a raid 0 array, if so what is best way, image clone, Ghost 15 or Windows 7 backup?

2002z06 said:

Is it possible to backup a raid 0 array, if so what is best way, image clone, Ghost 15 or Windows 7 backup?

In simplest terms, the RAID software spreads you data around your hard drives based on the RAID configuration chosen. Windows sees an "Image" based on all the data therefore the data can be backed up, but RAID is not something that can be backed up.

Just do normal backups. Use Windows 7 backup and image, or one of many free and paid backup utilities, and if your hard drive crashes, replace it and restore with the saved image and/or backups.

Cheers!
Robert

I understand that, raid writes data to both drives. So you back up the image, I have raid 0, 2 drives, if 1 drive crahes you replace the drive, recreate the the raid array then backup from the drive you stored your backup.

2002z06 said:

I understand that, raid writes data to both drives. So you back up the image, I have raid 0, 2 drives, if 1 drive crahes you replace the drive, recreate the the raid array then backup from the drive you stored your backup.

Yes, you understand correctly. That is exactly what you do with your backup (including a hard drive image if you are wise enough to create one).

But please understand my very selective use of "image" as it refers to RAID. No mater what configuration of RAID is selected, a single hard drive removed from the RAID setup is useless, in that you can not plug it into a computer and read data from it. The RAID software collects the data from each drive and translates it into an "image" your computer recognizes. The RAID software will allow you to replace a crashed hard drive and do a restore as if the RAID setup was just a single hard drive.

I thought this Dell web site had some useful info on RAID:

RAID | Dell

Cheers!
Robert

Does Windows 7 backup do an image, if not is Ghost 15 good

2002z06 said:

Does Windows 7 backup do an image, if not is Ghost 15 good

Yes, the ability to create and restore (you can restore an image saved to a partition on a hard drive with either the install DVD or the Repair CD) a hard drive image is built into 7: Just type 'backup' in the search box to find it -->

Hello,

Just wanted to put a twist on this thread.
Can I take an image created in windows 7 off of a single drive install and then create a Raid 0 setup with two drives and restore the single disk image to a raid 0 comfiguration?

Thanks!
Doug

It will work, but helps a great deal if you have the RAID controller enabled and the drivers installed before loading the image. Or at least it worked for me doing just that in Vista (don't see why 7 would be any different),

1. Install drive(s)
2. Create array in the bios
3. Boot to Windows and install the RAID driver
4. Restart and load image on array
5. Go into the bios and change the boot order to the array
6. Boot to Windows like normal
7. Once up and running, format old OS drive.

For me at least other than more space, Windows didn't even know it had been moved.

stormy13 said:

It will work, but helps a great deal if you have the RAID controller enabled and the drivers installed before loading the image. Or at least it worked for me doing just that in Vista (don't see why 7 would be any different),

1. Install drive(s)
2. Create array in the bios
3. Boot to Windows and install the RAID driver
4. Restart and load image on array
5. Go into the bios and change the boot order to the array
6. Boot to Windows like normal
7. Once up and running, format old OS drive.

For me at least other than more space, Windows didn't even know it had been moved.

The slight twist is #3. I have a single drive (current os) and a second one on the way. These are the only two drives for the array. I need to do this by saving the image on a remote drive, then wiping the existing os drive, adding the new drive, and making the Raid0 out of the two. Then boot with the os dvd/recover cd, and then re-image to the array. What do you think? Also, I was worried about the win7 image as I've read on other threads that the image is very picky about seeing new hardware.

Thanks for the help!!
Doug